Education has once again been at the forefront of headlines in Northern Ireland (NI) with increasing concern over budget restraints, exam transformation and Special Educational Needs reform, with the impact being felt right across the board.
Last week, the Integrated Education Fund (IEF) released its stance on how NI has a choice to make, it can either rationalise the schools’ estate within the existing school sectors, or it can seize an opportunity to do things differently and develop meaningful cross-sectoral solutions that contribute to greater integration.
At the same time, the Department of Education published revised guidance on the Transformation process for schools to move to Integrated status.
In a statement, the IEF said this is a “defining test” for Northern Ireland: “Will we choose to maintain the status quo, or will we embrace an opportunity to build a more shared future for generations to come?”
The IEF said that no one can deny education in Northern Ireland is in a financial crisis with 70% of schools operating in a financial deficit and many more are due to follow.
“There is an estimated £800m maintenance and repair backlog across the entire schools estate, a £300m deficit in the Education Authority (EA) budget and £200m deficit in the Department of Education budget. The figures are staggering.
“Unsurprisingly, the leaders of all the main education sectors are deeply concerned for the future of our children and our education system. Of course they are right. Education has been chronically underfunded for many years, and we should all be worried about what lies ahead.”
Almost 20 years ago an Independent Strategic Review of Education recommended the need for action. The Bain Review contained detailed recommendations to government, many of which were designed to address the over provision of schools and school places at a time of declining birth rate.
In 2013, a further Independent Review, further emphasised the need for change. This review included recommendations for a reconfiguration of up to 177 schools on jointly managed community basis and the creation of an Independent Area Planning Commission.
The Review stated these proposed changes to the network of schools should be made on a ‘sector-blind’ basis prioritising the needs of learners and efficiency of delivery. The report suggested “maximum annual savings of approximately £100m could be generated for reinvestment in education.”
Furthermore, the Ulster University’s ‘Transforming Education’ project estimates that the total additional cost of maintaining a divided education system is up to £150 million each year. Their report states that “Many communities around Northern Ireland continue to have duplication of education services. These schools are delivering the same curriculum by teachers with identical qualifications but to different communities”.
Whilst all schools are legally ‘open to all’, the reality is less than 2% of children attending Catholic Maintained schools identify as Protestant and less than 8% of those pupils attending Controlled schools identify as Catholic.
The IEF continued: “With so many schools in dire need of funding, the problem becomes where to start, how can we bridge the gap between the financial need and the available budget?
“The IEF would contend more Integrated schools, together with other innovative cross sectoral solutions, could potentially bring significant financial benefits over time. This why the IEF has supported the Ulster University’s ‘Future Schools Project’, which seeks to support school communities who wish to explore whether there might be a more sustainable solution to school provision in their local area, and provide guidance on how they could move forward with this in practice.
“Let’s be clear the IEF is not saying such solutions must only result in an ‘Integrated school’ if that is not what the local community wants, but if it is wanted, then one Integrated school providing high-quality education for everyone in the community could be more sustainable in the long term.
The IEF added: “It is important to note that Integrated schools go beyond just educating Catholic and Protestant pupils together, they also include children with no faith, different faiths, different abilities, special needs and children who come from different socio-economic backgrounds.
“Furthermore, Integrated schools are co-educational, educating boys and girls together. Arguably, such fully inclusive schools offer the best chance to be truly open to all, with no additional barriers to entry. They are schools for all the family.”
The Department of Education’s recently published revised guidance on the Transformation process for schools to move to Integrated status explains clearly how schools must comply with the statutory definition of Integrated Education by demonstrating that they will educate together pupils of different cultures and religious beliefs and of none, including reasonable numbers of both Protestant and Catholic children, as well as pupils from different socio‑economic backgrounds and abilities.
Education Minister Paul Givan said: “Integrated Education is a key element of a sustainable and high-quality education system in Northern Ireland.
“The guidance published reflects significant developments in recent years, including the commencement of the Integrated Education Act 2022. Transforming Together outlines the principles that underpin the statutory definition of Integrated Education and sets out the key stages of the Transformation pathway, which offers an established and structured route to becoming an Integrated school.”
The Minister concluded: “I am confident that Transforming Together will assist and support informed decision making throughout the process for schools that wish to explore Transformation. A wide range of advice and support will continue to be available from my Department and from our education partners.”
The Transforming Together guidance is available on the DE website at https://www.education-ni.gov.
Further information is also included in a Written Ministerial Statement, available at https://www.education-ni.gov.
